Improvement in machine for stretching fabrics



- Figure 2, a plan of the saine; and

on a statimlary shaft, for the purpose of varying the aff:

genital gaat ISAAC E. PALMER, OF HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY.

Letters Patent No. 88,505, dated March 3 IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINEKPQR STRBTOFHING' FABRICS.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER, of Hackensack, in the county of Bergen, and State of New Jersey, have invented Certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Stretching and Dressing Mosquito-Net and other Fabrics, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal section ofthe principal parts of a stretching and dressing-apparatus, eonstructed'in accordance with my invention;

Figure 3, a transverse section through one of the sclvage-feeding and carrying rolls, or cylinders, and one end of the friction-'ame, or structure, that, in connection with the selvage-rolls, serves to stretch the fabric as it passes over it.

,Siinilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention consists- First, in a combination of travelling selvage-feeding and carrying devices, or surfaces, with a stationary intermediate friction-frame, or surface, for stretching the fabric as it is passed over said surfaces to the dressing-machine, or otherwise, and \\-'hereby-the body, or centre portion of the fabric is restrained from running ahead of the sides, or selvage-portions, and a more regular or even stretching-action ofthe fabric throughout its entire width secured, than -where the fabric is stretched by or on -a travellingr surface, operating on the body, or centre, as well Aas the selvagcs of the fabric.

Secondly, the invention consists in a combination of independently-hung or travelling selvage-carrying and stretching devices, with friction-wheels, -o appliances for driving the same, when said appliances are so hung, or the shaft which operates them so constructed and made capable of adjustment, as that either sclvagestretching device, -or both, at the ends of the stretching-frame, may have its or their motion, as a driver of the fabric, temporarily arrested, and the same be left free to be moved bythe lat-ter, for the purpose of regulating the run of the fabiic at the one selvage relatively to the other, or to the body, or centre portion of the fabric, as required.

. Thirdly, the invention consists in a combination, with a divided expanding and contracting friction1stretching frame, of iinlepeinlently-revolving selvagestretching rolls, and stationary hubs to said rolls, and ends ofthe friction-trame made adjustable in an oblique direction stretch, and to adapt the apparatus to different widths of fabi-ic.

Fourthly, theinvent-ion consists in the employment of a fabric-p1:ittbrm, or receptacle, arrangedinfront of and below thc stretchiiig-suriaecs, and so suspended, at opposite ends, as to admit ofthe heft ofthe fabric, between said receptacle and the stretching-surfaces,

being increased or diminished, either throughout the entire width of the fabric, or more at the one side than the other, for the purpose of regulating the run and stretch ofthe fabric over the stretching-surfaces.

Fifthly, the invention consists in a certain peculiar roughened construction ofthe drying-cylinder, whereby the fabric, in passing round or under said cylinder, restrained, without puncture or damage to the fabric, from coming in contact with the smooth, or glazed surfaces of the cylinder, and the fabric kept at the stretch given it when damp, or from contracting by the actionof the drying-cylinder.

Referring to the accompanying drawing- A represents the friction stretching-frame, or surface, having oblique ends, B B, and cut, or divided as at a a, as usual in stretching-cylinders, to admit of its expansion and contraction to suit differentv widths of fabric, and to effect variation in the stretch'; but said frame, when set, is here of a stationary character, and if made of curvilinear, instead of a dat configuration, either of which may be adopted, need not be more than a partial cylinder', as represented in g. 1. I

This friotion-frame mainly serves as a drag to the body, or centre portion of the fabric, as the latter is passed over it, to prevent said centre part from running ahead, as it is apt, of the edges, or selvages, the selvage-portions being carried, and stretching-action at such parts being effected, by travelling surfaces, or devices, C C, which may be of any suitable endless eharacter,ln1t are here shown as of circular shape, constituting selvage-feeding and fabric-stretching rolls, or cylinders, they being provided with brush-like formations, b b, on their peripheries, to secure a proper hold on the fabric.

It is desirable that these selvagecarrying and stretching devices, or rolls, C (l,should travel at a somewhat greater velocity' than the steam or other drying-cylimler, D, lso that the fabric s, in passing from the former to the latter, will be delivered loose, orfree on to, or under against the drying-cylinder, Vwhich is not designed to exert any stretching-action, or effect, but, in addition to its drying-function, simply to preserve the fabric at the stretch previously given it.

E is a stationary shaft, and

F F, hubs, fitted on to or over opposite ends of it, and formed with rcversely-tapering passages, c, through them for the purpose of varying the oblique position of said hubs on the shaft E, with which they are made stationary by set, or locking-screws, (Z d.

These hubs F F extend through the ends, B B, of the stretching, or dragging-flame, and through the naves, or centres of the selvagerolls G C, which are arrlanged to freely and independently rotate on said hu is.

facility is afforded for either expanding orcontracting the stretching-trame A, and for varying the length of the entire stretching-suriitee or surfaces atV the back,

Ilhus it will be seen that on slacking the screws d d,

relatively to the front, by varying the obliquity of the ends B B and selvage-rolls G G, to suit different widths of fabric, and for increasing or diminishing the amount of stretch.

The selvage-rolls C C are shown as driven by friction-wheels G G, acting on their peripheries.

These friction-wheels are driven by or through a pulley, H, arranged on their shaft, to rotate at a speed which will give to the selvage-rolls O C a slightly higher velocity than the dryingcylinder, for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned.

The shaft I, of the friction-wheels G G, is made in sections, and jointed, as at e e, to admit alike of the Obliquity of the end sections of. said shaft, and of the wheels G G, being changed to snit variations in the obliquity of the selvage-'rolls C G, and which may be doner by sliding in or out the standard J, that carries the centre section ofthe shaft I, and also to admit of either or both friction-wheels G G at pleasure being thrown into or out of driving contact with the inde- ,pendently-hung selvagerolls C C, so that only one or both of the selvage-rolls may be driven to effect feed as well as stretch of the fabric, or either or both of the same be left simply to rotate with and by the passage of the fabric over it o r them, whereby the timely run of either or both selvage-portions, relatively to the centre, or body of the fabric, o'r to each other, may be regulated to the greatest nicety, to secure a uniformity in the stretch throughout the width of the fabric.

Thislatter adjustment of the friction-wheels, to make them drivers or not, as required, may be effected by suspending the outer 'ends of the end sections of the shaft I, in raising and lowering-stirrups, or frames K, adjustable by screws f f from above.

The fabric to be stretched is laid on or in a platform, or receptacle, L, arranged in front of the Astretchingdevices, and below the upper surfaces of them, and so suspended by ropes and pulleys, or otherwise, at its opposite ends, as that, by raising or lowering it, not only the heft of the fabric uniformly throughout its width may be increased or diminished to vary the drag, or stretch, but, by raising or lowering one end of the receptacle more than the other, the heft of the fabric is made greater at or toward theone selvage, whereby, in case of any irregularity in the feed, or drag, the same is easily rectified.

In passing the fabric to the drying-cylinder D, from whence it is conducted either direct to the take-up roll above, or first run over or under any desired number of additional drying-cylinders, or surfaces, while it is desirable that the outer surface of said cylinder should, for the most part, be smooth, or free from projections,

to facilitate the passage of the heat through it from the interior, it, nevertheless, is very objectionablefor the damp fabric to come in actual contact with the same, especially where the fabric is starched, as it causes the starch to run into the meshes of the fabric.

To remedy this, without cutting the threads of the fabric, or inj uring its woven character, I construct, or provide the drying-cylinder with longitudinal rows, or strips, M, at suitable distances apart, on or around its periphery, and form the same with teethnt, inclining in reverse directions on either side of a central plane, drawn transversely through the cylinder, or in `other words, cause the teeth to set outwardly away from the centre of the cylinder toward its ends, `which construction, or arrangement ofthe teeth, not only holds the fabric without injury to its threads from contact with the smooth surfaces of the cylinder, but aids in vthe fabric which comes in contact with them, without injuring it, inwhich respect their action is very differ- .ent from that of the pins commonly used, which have to enter and penetrate interstices, or meshes of the fabric, and which, in mosquito-net, especially when their points do not happen to come directly opposite the centres of the interstices, or meshes, enlarge the latter and pull them out of shape.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of travelling selvage-feeding and carrying devices with a stationary intermediate friction-frame, or surface, operating as a drag to the centre, or body of the fabric, and acting, in unison with the sewage-carrying device, to effect the stretch o the fabric, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of independently-hung, or travelling selvage-carryingand stretching devices, with friction-wheels or appliances for driving the same, when said drivers are so hung and operated as to admit of either or both of the selvage-carryihg devices, at opposite ends of the intermediate friction-frame, having feed given them, or otherwise allowed to freely move with and by the passage of the fabric over them, essentially as herein set forth.

3. The combination, with the divided. expanding and contracting stretching-frame A, and the independently revolving selvage-carrying rolls C, of the'I stationary hubs F F, having reversely-tapering passages, c, through' them, and adjustable in relation to the fixed shaft E, substantially as and for the purpose or purposes herein set forth.

4. The fabric-carrier, or receptacle L, hung so as to be capable of being raised or lowered, and adjustable from opposite ends, for operation in concert with and in relation to the fabric-stretching devices, or surfaces, essentially as specified.

5. The roughened points m, scattered over the surface of the body of the drying-cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

. ISAAC E. PALMER.

Witnesses: i

HENRY T. BnoWN, FRED, HnYNns. 

